CLASSES |
|
'Anyone who is looking to become more specific, flexible, grounded and playful performer should give themselves the gift of clown training with Toomey. It has been one of the single most influential components of my education as an actor.' -ANDRUS NICHOLS, Elliot Norton Award Winning Actor for Saint Joan with Bedlam Theatre
'Michael Toomey and Andrew Borthwick Leslie are transformational teachers deeply committed to and successful in creating experiences that inspire and train artists in a way that serves both our profession and our world. They have deeply affected who I am as an artists as well as several of my students. I am working to bring them and the Humanist Project to my full ensemble of artists as often as I can.'- REBECCA KEMPER-GOODHEART, Artistic Director, Elm Shakespeare
ShakespeAre’ structure of LanGuage
NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
March 20, 27
April 3, 10, 17, 24
May 1, 8
ART south oxford space
138 south Oxford st
Brooklyn NY 11217
3 hours classes
Mondays
Time 7-10 PM
“Nothing that is Humans is alien to me”- Terrence
Incorporating the full human experience into our Work ,Play, Life and Art
Through games, movement exercises and experimentation, this class will explore the structure of Shakespeare’s verse and prose in speeches from his plays. Michael F. Toomey and Josephine Wilson offer this course looking at Shakespeare through text work, structure of the verse, prose and the physical life of the actor with speeches from Shakespeare’s plays this class will explore the questions:
- What practices can we use in rehearsal and on our own to explore and physicalize Shakespeare’s text?
- The various elements that make up Shakespeare’s verse and prose text and how to heighten their use through physical rehearsal.
- Are all elements of the artist identity present in their work and how much of the self is the artist willing to share through the text?
- Can they be more fully present in their work?
- How to maintain the size and scope of Shakespeare’s language and what structures help the performer to maintain heightened language in performance.
-
Cost
$425 A non-refundable tuition fee
$100 non-refundable deposit is require in order to reserve you spot in the class
The balance of payment is due on the first day of class
Space is limited so reserve your place today.
Please send your request to Thehumanistproject@gmail.com
For those with limited resources it may be possible to set up payment plans. Contact Thehumanistproject@gmail.com for more information.
(In order to assure a complete experience for the artists, we want to have a group that is balanced in demographics, so it may not be ‘first come first serve’. We will however, give preference to early responders.)
Don't Miss Out on this exciting new opportunity!
3 hours each class
Monday
Time 7-10 PM
March 20, 27
April 3, 10, 17, 24
May 1, 8
ART south oxford space
138 south Oxford st
Brooklyn NY 11217
Artist Bios:
Josephine Wilson has trained extensively at Shakespeare & Co in the Berkshires and holds her MFA in Acting from Pennsylvania State University. She is a Company Member of the Humanist Project seen in Titus Andronicus, Macbeth, and HUP! Quantum Fairy Tales. She is also a member of Shakespeare on the Fly where she recently played Beatrice from Much Ado About Nothing. Josephine has been seen regionally as Annie in Table Manners, Miss Jean Brodie in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, Lady Macbeth in Macbeth, and Nancy in Frozen. She has taught extensively for Lincoln Center and Shakespeare & Company Education, and she currently Chairs the Acting for Film Program at New York Film Academy, teaching adults around the world how to embody Shakespeare, how to deepen Acting Technique and free the breath and body to allow the actor’s imagination and impulses to live. Josephine is a proud member of Actor's Equity.
Michael F. Toomey is the Artistic Director of the Brooklyn based theater company The Humanist Project. Michael is a neurodivergent performer/teacher who combines his unique perspective on play and performance with embodiment of language. He has been a company member at the internationally acclaimed Shakespeare & Company in Lenox Ma for over twenty years where he is an actor, director and core faculty member. He is a founding member and trustee of Split Knuckle Theatre, which devises new works of theatre touring throughout the world with performances in Bangkok, Athens and Paris. Michael teaches workshops for professional actors in Fight, Clown and Shakespeare around the country and abroad. He has directed, devised and choreographed numerous shows including The Comedy of Errors, Titus Andronicus, Julius Caesar and Alice In Wonderland. Michael has performed throughout the East Coast and internationally including roles such as Macbeth, Scapin, and Polonius. He is a graduate from LISPA (London International School of Performing Arts) and holds an MFA in Lecoq-based actor created theatre from Naropa University. Michael lives in Brooklyn with his wife Sarah and son August. www.Michaelftoomey.com
what people are saying about the humanist project classes
'For me, acting requires an honest connection with my true self, with all the parts of myself I ignore, push away, and/or refuse to acknowledge in the day to day. Perhaps it's self-preservation in such a big city and competitive industry. The Humanist Project's approach starts with the actor as a person, who he is first and foremost and builds from there using his life experiences as the canvas on which to paint. My training with Michael and Andrew has been invaluable, especially since moving to New York, where this sense of self-preservation can so easily overwhelm an actors journey for truth. The Humanist Project has continually brought me back to the essentials and joy of acting, for this I am very grateful.' - PAUL-EMILE CENDRON, Actor, The Judge
'The Humanist Project is my favorite place to play, grow & experiment as an artist in NYC! If you're looking for a fun, nurturing & explorative environment to learn, take any of Michael & Andrew's class offerings (& any of their guests as well!)' -EMILY VERE NICOLL, Actor, She Stoops to Conquer
'These two teachers, Michael Toomey and Andrew Borthwick Leslie, are inventive, freeing and touched with a genius of teaching non-judgmentally. Working with each of them has been freeing, inspiring and eye-opening! I cannot recommend them too highly.' -DENNIS KRAUSNICK, Director of Training, Shakespeare & Company
